Treasury Board delays signing of new TC collective agreement

Treasury Board informed PSAC late last week that it would be unable to honour its commitment to sign the new Collective Agreement before October 1st, 2013, citing “procedural issues.”

The parties had made plans to formally sign the collective agreement on September 30th, bringing its new provisions into effect. Although wage increases and allowances are retroactive, most other provisions of any new agreement are not effective until the date of signing.

PSAC held ratification votes from mid-August until September 19, 2013, to ensure that the Union would be in a position to sign the agreement by September 30th or earlier.

Treasury Board is now targeting mid-October for the formal signing.

Meanwhile, PSAC has been working hard to ensure that TC members being transferred to the First Nations Health Authority in B.C. effective October 1, 2013, would be entitled to the provisions of the new agreement.  Those assurances were received from the FNHA on September 30.

Ratification Vote - TC Group (EG's) - September 9 2013 - important info!

If you are a Treasury Board TC Group member (that's you - AAFC EG's), make sure you attend one session of this vote. Start times are at: 

4:30pm

5:30pm

6:30pm

You only need to attend one session.

For more information, contact a member of your Local Executive.

TC Contract Ratification Vote
Monday, September 9, 2013

4:30-7:30 pm

Lethbridge & District Labour Council (LDLC) Office

105A-3305 18^th Ave North, Lethbridge AB

There will be information sessions throughout the evening, approximately hourly, starting at 4:30 with TC bargaining team member June Winger.  Voting will be ongoing after each information session.  We encourage everyone to attend an information session prior to voting.

Location: LDLC meeting room is located in the Palliser Regional Schools building, Room 105A.  Entrance is around the back of the building.  Follow the signs once you park.

Please bring:  your union membership card

TC Contract Ratification Vote - Sept 9 - Important!

TC Contract Ratification Vote
Monday, September 9, 2013

4:30-7:30 pm

Lethbridge & District Labour Council (LDLC) Office

105A-3305 18^th Ave North, Lethbridge AB

There will be information sessions throughout the evening, approximately hourly, starting at 4:30 with TC bargaining team member June Winger.  Voting will be ongoing after each information session.  We encourage everyone to attend an information session prior to voting.

Location: LDLC meeting room is located in the Palliser Regional Schools building, Room 105A.  Entrance is around the back of the building.  Follow the signs once you park.

Please bring:  your union membership card

Questions?  Contact any current executive member (see PSAC board at LRC or www.local30048.ca)

Tentative Agreement Reached for TC Group!

The Technical Services (TC) bargaining team met with Treasury Board for three days this week and a tentative agreement has been reached.  Details of the settlement will be released as soon as possible.

 

"Congratulations to the TC bargaining team for securing a tentative agreement for TC memberstoday," said Bob Jackson, PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President for British Columbia. "This shows that collective bargaining works. The government should now get back to the table for other PSAC groups still waiting for a deal."

 

The TC group has more than 10,000 members who are primarily involved in the performance, inspection, oversight and leadership of skilled technical activities.   They have been without a contract for more than two years.

 

 

TC Group to Head Back to the Bargaining Table

After several months of delays by Treasury Board, negotiations are back on for the TC Group. Bargaining is scheduled for July 29 – 31 in Ottawa.

Negotiations reached an impasse in the spring of 2012, and the TC Bargaining Team applied to have a Public Interest Commission (PIC) appointed to hear both parties’ proposals and make recommendations for a settlement. The PIC began its work in mid-November and its report, delivered in January 2013, supported many of PSAC’s demands. Since February, PSAC has been asking Treasury Board to return to the table to negotiate a fair collective agreement based on the PIC recommendations.

The PIC recommended increasing and expanding recruitment and retention allowances, and improving travelling time and acting pay provisions, among several other recommendations. It also recommended adding an increment to the EG classification wage grid to bring the top rate in line with EGs at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

The mandate of the Public Interest Commission was to assist the parties in completing negotiations for a collective agreement. The recommendations of the PIC are not binding, but it is hoped they will provide a road map to a settlement.

The Bargaining Team thanks TC members for their patience and support and is looking forward to the possibility of bringing a negotiated settlement back to TC members for a ratification vote.

Date Modified : 2013/07/04

Boycott National Public Service Week

We are worth more than a pancake! It is an insult for our employer to pretend to celebrate Public Services while continuing its assault on public services and disrespect to our members. Along with our PSAC Sisters and Brothers across Canada, Local 30048 will be boycotting National Public Service Week.

It is also ridiculous to celebrate with an employer that refuses to bargain. We urge our TC group members (AAFC EGs) to send this message to their manager -

"Dear (Manager),

 I respectfully decline your invitation to participate in (the event) because I strongly believe that an employer's first step in recognizing its employees' hard work is to demonstrate willingness to negotiate a fair work contract. Until the Treasury Board returns to the negotiating table with the TC group, I will consider that the employer is refusing us this very elementary demonstration of respect.

I am urging you to join me in requesting that the Treasury Board fulfill its obligation to negotiate in good faith with our union in order to help our organization to achieve its important role!

Yours Truly,"

http://www.psac-afpc.com/news/2013/messages/20130515-e.shtml

May 2, 2013

TC Group Bargaining Update

Although almost four months have passed since the Public Interest Commission released its recommendations to settle a new contract for the TC Group, Treasury Board says it is still not ready to return to the bargaining table.

The latest answer has become a familiar refrain: PSAC approached Treasury Board, offering to return to the bargaining table and use the recommendations of the PIC as a roadmap to a settlement.  The Employer says that it must first consult with departments before considering a return to the bargaining table.  When asked for an update, Treasury Board's reply is that the department consultations are continuing.

PSAC and the TC Bargaining Team are working hard to mobilize our members to get the best Collective Agreement possible. If you have not done so already, please share your personal e-mail address with either your PSAC Regional Office or your regional or component TC bargaining team member. Good communication is of key importance for our mobilizing efforts.

As well, Essential Service Agreements  (ESAs) for the TC bargaining unit are being finalized with the last of the government departments. We will be posting further information on TC ESAs as soon as it is available.

In the meantime, PSAC President Robyn Benson has communicated with her counterparts at Treasury Board, calling on them to return to the table. It is important that your voice is heard while Treasury Board is talking to your department managers.Here is how you can take action.

We want a fair contract now! 

http://www.psac-afpc.com/news/2013/bargaining/20130502-e.shtml

Preparing for a strike financially

TC Bargaining Update Meeting

Child care provided.

For more information on the Public Interest Commission's report see-

http://www.psac.com/news/2013/bargaining/20130215-e.shtml

Please show your support:

Tell Tony Clement that you support a fair agreement for TC Group workers.

http://poac.psacadmin.ca/tony-clement-tc-support

Annual Dinner Meeting

Our Annual Dinner Meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 21, 2013 at 5:30pm at the New Dynasty Restaurant.

Agenda:

Bargaining 2013/ TC group Public Interest Commission report
Local 30048 budget presentation
Establishment of Lethbridge & Area Women’s Committee

Please RSVP to stephanieerb68@yahoo.ca by noon on Friday, January 18 if you are attending.

Results of the Public Interest Commission - TC group

Here's a link to the PIC for the TC group.
http://www.psac.com/news/2013/bargaining/20130114-e.shtml


The TC bargaining team is now in the process of analyzing this report and determining next steps, namely whether the recommendations will lead to a return to the bargaining table, or if the team will ask members for a strike mandate.

TC PIC brief and Outstanding Issues-Executive Summary

Link to documents -

http://www.psac.com/news/2012/bargaining/20121221b-e.shtml

November 21, 2012

TC bargaining team defends interests of members before the PIC

The TC bargaining team made its submissions on its outstanding bargaining proposals before a Public Interest Commission in Ottawa on November 13-15, 2012.

TC members underpaid

Your team told the Commission that TC members are already underpaid according to a joint pay study done by the Employer and the Union in 2007-2008, and shouldn’t be put in a worse economic situation because of the significant concession the Employer is demanding on cessation of severance pay for voluntary departures.

Proposal for new increments

The Team made the case for a new increment to be added to all steps on the wage grid in the TC collective agreement, pointing out that EGs make up a significant proportion of the bargaining unit and that EGs at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency – the closest and best comparator for that classification – achieved an additional increment in the first round of bargaining after the Agency was created about 13 years ago.

Recruitment and retention issues within specific groups in Transport Canada, Health Canada, Measurement Canada and HRSDC were also discussed, as well as proposals for a number of allowances, and the Union’s demand to roll the $2,000 allowance received by some Primary Products Inspectors into the wage rate for all PIs.

Outstanding proposals

As well, the Union addressed its remaining outstanding proposals, including acting pay, standby pay, travelling time, hours of work at Marine Security Operations Centres, and proposed changes to Appendix R.

Employer brief

Your bargaining team was shocked to hear in the Employer’s brief that since we reached impasse in bargaining last March, Treasury Board has rushed out and done two pay studies – unilaterally, not only without input from the Union, but without even telling us. These pay studies have a very small number of participants and compare wages at the 50^th percentile rather than the 75^th percentile.

Of course the result is that they show that the wage disparity for the TC Group isn’t as significant as found by the joint pay study, where the terms of reference were agreed upon by both parties. Treasury Board also said that it wants to neither lead nor lag the market in terms of wages and is happy to have employees paid either 10 per cent greater or 10 per cent less than comparator groups at the 50th percentile.

In other words, it doesn’t want to be the Employer of choice.  This is alarming, considering that TC members are highly skilled employees who shoulder the responsibility of enforcing the regulations put into place by government in order to protect the safety and security of Canadians, and our resources, our seas, skies and environment.

Articles 20, 43 and 45

In order to reduce the size of our package and to encourage the PIC to focus on our economic demands, the Union withdrew its proposals on Article 20 – Harassment; our demand in Article 43 – Family Related Responsibility Leave to move Compassionate Care Leave to a separate article; Article 45 – Maternity-Related Responsibility Leave; and our proposal for a new article on Pre-Retirement Leave.

The Employer came to the table with fewer proposals overall and withdrew its demand in Article 28 – Overtime, in which it was trying to limit to 50 kilometres the maximum 100-kilometre round trip mileage paid to employees who are called back to work on days off.

Recommendations

The PIC has 30 days from November 15, 2012, to issue its recommendations. At that time, the bargaining teams will have to consider whether the recommendations bring them close enough to a potential tentative agreement that they can return to the bargaining table.

Information

The TC bargaining team thanks you for your support and your patience during this difficult round of bargaining. 

TC outstanding issues to come before PIC this week

November 10 , 2012

After a long wait, the TC Bargaining Team will appear before a Public Interest Commission (PIC) on November 13-15, 2012, to present our outstanding bargaining issues.

Treasury Board will do the same, and both parties will respond to each other's submissions.

This marks the first time PSAC will present to a Public Interest Commission under the Public Service Labour Relations Act, which came into effect in April, 2005.

The Public Interest Commission consists of a chairperson mutually agreed to by PSAC and Treasury Board, and two sidespersons, one representing each party. 

The Chair is arbitrator Vince Ready. Mr. Ready has mediated or arbitrated more than 7,000 labour and commercial disputes since opening his mediation and arbitration practice in 1982.

PSAC's sidesperson is Gary Cwitco, a former Director of Occupational Health and Safety with the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, who has more than 30 years experience in all aspects of labour relations. Guy Lauzé is the Employer sidesperson.

Under the legislation, the PIC has 30 days to write a report making recommendations for a settlement. Although these recommendations are not binding, they are expected to carry significant weight with both parties.

Your bargaining Team has worked hard to achieve a negotiated settlement. We hope the recommendations of the PIC will lead to a return the bargaining table and result in a tentative agreement that will be brought to the members for a vote.

Meanwhile, it is important to be prepared for any eventuality. For this reason, PSAC will be coordinating strike training for TC members right across the country in the near future. Please continue to check this website for further updates.

TC Group moves closer to PIC hearing

Steady progress is being made to put the outstanding issues at the TC bargaining table before a Public Interest Commission.

PSAC and Treasury Board have agreed on a chairperson for the PIC, and have both named their sidespersons. All of these individuals have now been formally appointed by the Public Service Labour Relations Board, and have been tasked with identifying mutually agreeable dates to meet.

A Public Interest Commission under the current labour legislation is similar to the Conciliation Board under the old Public Service Staff Relations Act. The two bargaining teams will appear before the PIC and each party will present its rationale for the proposals that are still on the bargaining table.

The role of the PIC is to review the submissions and make recommendations to the Employer and to the Union within 30 days of the hearing. Although the recommendations are not binding, it is hoped that both parties will be guided by the recommendations to a fair and decent collective agreement.

http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=781863db81c974cf297a8fa95&id=9abf934d2c&e=31eb676c36

Collective bargaining process - conciliation/strike

Here's a flow chart describing the conciliation/strike bargaining process. Currently, the TC group has made application for a Public Interest Commission.

http://www.psac.com/news/2012/bargaining/20120514-e.shtml

Strike Preparation Training

Bargaining climate difficult in face of cuts - Bargaining | PSAC

May 10, 2012

Bargaining continues to be difficult for the Technical Services (TC), Border Services (FB), Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Parks Canada units of the federal government. The climate has worsened considerably since the federal budget, which slashes the size of the public service. Parks and CFIA in particular have been heavily targeted for job reductions.

At the TC, FB and CFIA tables, the union is ready to bargain but the employer is making little effort to achieve the compromises required to close new deals. In each case PSAC has decided to refer bargaining to conciliation, asking the Public Service Labour Relations Board (PSLRB) to establish Public Interest Commissions.

Rather than the more familiar process of conciliation, the Public Service Labour Relations Act requires that a Public Interest Commission (PIC) be appointed. PSAC has requested that the PSLRB establish a three person (a chair and two side-persons) PIC for TC, FB and CFIA. As part of its deliberations, the PIC must take into account several factors including the state of the Canadian economy and the Canadian government's fiscal circumstances. The PIC issues recommendations for resolving the differences between the parties. PSAC's website (psac.com) will be updated with meeting dates once the PICs are established.

At Parks, both the union and the employer have agreed to hold bargaining in abeyance until at least the fall while the parties sort through the fallout of about 50 per cent of the membership hit with Workforce Adjustment notices.

Bargaining climate difficult in face of cuts - Bargaining | PSAC

Negotiations between TC bargaining team and Treasury Board have broken off

Negotiations for a new collective agreement between the TC bargaining team and Treasury Board have broken off.  Your Union will be referring pay and other outstanding issues to a conciliator.

The talks came to an end after Treasury Board insisted there was no money for TC members beyond the so-called “pattern settlement” – and then added insult to injury with a demeaning response to some of the Union’s proposals on retention and recruitment allowances.

http://www.psac-afpc.org/news/2012/bargaining/20120309-e.shtml

TC bargaining team signs off on more language, tables new wage proposal

February 28, 2012

Your TC Bargaining Team continued to make slow progress toward a new collective agreement in the latest round of negotiations with Treasury Board.

In a bargaining session that lasted from February 20th through February 24th, 2012, we signed off on more language and, in an effort to break the logjam on economic discussions, tabled a new wage proposal with Treasury Board.

Economic Proposals

• Your Team has withdrawn the demand for a market adjustment of 13.5 per cent contained in our economic package tabled on December 15, 2011.
• We maintained the proposal for wage increases of 3 per cent in each year of a three-year deal.
• We offered a new proposal for an additional increment of 4 per cent to be added to the top of all classifications, effective April 1, 2013.
• We also proposed that the bottom increment be removed from all classifications at the same time.
• All other proposals for allowances in the original economic package remain on the table.

Budget Freeze to Lift

When the Harper government froze budgets for the fiscal years 2010/2011 and 2011/2012, it indicated that core funding for wages would resume in fiscal 2013. Several collective agreements have now been negotiated that provide for additional increases in 2013. For example, in the PA Collective Agreement, an additional increment for WPs will come into effect on April 13 2013. In negotiations with PIPSC, Land Surveyors are also slated to receive an additional increment in 2013.

Successive pay studies have shown that wages of TC members have fallen substantially behind their comparators, and the 13.5 per cent market adjustment was very defensible. Therefore your Bargaining Team feels that our amended proposal of an additional increment is more than reasonable. It delays additional increases until the second-last year of a new agreement and it would ensure a fair increase for all members of the bargaining unit, whereas proposed Appendix P allowances are limited to specific positions where your Bargaining Team was able to identify recruitment and retention issues.

Appendix P

The Employer did not respond to our proposals for terminable allowances under Appendix P, which were tabled in early February. Treasury Board has committed to providing us with a complete response at our next bargaining session.

Gender Identity and Expression

Your Bargaining Team is very pleased to report that we have signed off on new language under Article 19 – No Discrimination to include gender identity and expression as prohibited grounds of discrimination.  This is an historic first. 

Bill C-389, legislation championed by former NDP MP Bill Siksay, which would have added gender identity and expression as prohibited grounds of discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act, was passed in the last Parliament but did not make it through the Senate before the election last May.
PSAC has negotiated this language in many collective agreements, but this is the first agreement in the federal public service to include this language.

Leave for Union Business

We have signed off on new language in Article 14 – Leave With or Without Pay for Alliance Business, to allow leave without pay for an employee who is elected to a full-time position in PSAC.

Other Issues

All of the other outstanding issues between the parties were discussed, including critical language on Hours of Work (rest periods, shift scheduling, etc.) and acting pay.

Next bargaining session

Your Bargaining Team is looking forward to making more progress when bargaining resumes on March 5 – 8, 2012.

Questions ? 
tc-bargaining-negociations@psac-afpc.com